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Marion County approves $176,810 DOJ reimbursement grant for jail costs
Summary
The Marion County Board of Commissioners approved a Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance award of $176,810 under the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program to reimburse jail costs; county legal counsel reviewed the award and commissioners said the funds free up general fund dollars.
The Marion County Board of Commissioners voted to accept incoming funds from the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance, approving a State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) award of $176,810 for reimbursements related to housing people in the county jail. The motion passed unanimously during the board's regular session.
Jacob Ramsey, with the Marion County Sheriff's Office, told the board the SCAAP grant “provides reimbursement for costs incurred when housing people in jails who have been charged with violating state laws, and who also happen to be non citizens.” Ramsey said the award is a reimbursement program and is “not related to immigration enforcement,” and that county legal counsel reviewed the award package to ensure acceptance complies with state and federal law.
Commissioners discussed the legal context and budgetary effect. One commissioner noted that state law prevents counties from enforcing federal immigration laws and that federal law prevents counties from obstructing federal enforcement, and said the grant allows the county to free general fund dollars for other uses. No commissioner identified additional conditions on accepting the grant.
The motion, as read on the record, approved acceptance of the incoming funds grant award agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance in the amount of $176,810 for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, with reimbursement authority through 12/31/2025. The board voted in favor; no recorded roll-call tally with member-by-name was provided in the transcript.
The sheriff's office said it will continue to involve county legal counsel when submitting reimbursement requests to ensure compliance with relevant requirements.
Action details and next steps: the county will accept the award and process reimbursements under the usual accounting and legal review procedures; no further conditions or amendments were specified during the meeting.
